living healthy September 10
Queensland Country Health Fund Member Newsletter
ed.5
FINANCIAL REVIEW SMART INVESTOR EDITION JUNE 2010
Australia’s Health: A Mixed Bag Pharmacy Benefits PREVENTATIVE DENTAL CARE Townsville Running Festival
Medicare Levy Surcharge ABN 18 085 048 237
Benefits of Podiatry
From the General Manager - Health Fund As I am sure most of you know, Queensland Country Health Fund
Health Funds in Australia and one of the two best Health Funds in
has its head office based in Townsville, North Queensland. We are
Queensland for families and established couples.
the only Health Fund to have a head office in regional
We are very pleased to receive this recognition but also
Queensland and one of only two Health Funds based in
understand that there is more that we can do. We conduct a
Queensland. Something not everyone will know is that Queensland Country Health Fund originated in Mount Isa in 1977 and was formally known as MIM Employees Health Society. We
Member satisfaction survey each year and based on feedback received from our Members introduce changes and benefit improvements with the aim of better meeting the needs of our
are very proud of our heritage and the fact that we now provide
Members. We value your feedback and will continue to look for
health insurance coverage to more than 33,000 Queenslanders.
ways to improve our service to you.
The number of people we cover is also growing rapidly. The
Offering good service is only part of meeting the expectations of
growth in our Members with the Fund, increased by more than
Members. We also understand that price and value for money is
twice the industry average growth over the past year, as more people realise the excellent value that Queensland Country offers.
very important. Offering an affordable health insurance product that is
In June this year, the Australian Financial Review “Smart Investor Magazine” included an article on private hospital cover in Australia. The Smart Investor Magazine completed a full comparison of all Health insurers' products to determine the best value cover offered in each state and for each life stage. This review confirmed that Queensland Country Health Fund was considered one of the top 7
competitively priced forms a significant part of our assessment when considering increases to premiums. Queensland Country Health Fund has been successful in ensuring that our premium increases over the past 5 years have been less than the industry average and less than our major competitors.
Health Fund
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Queensland Country Health Fund
5.04%
3.81%
2.82%
5.53%
4.50%
Medibank
5.88%
4.94%
4.64%
5.74%
5.74%
MBF
6.71%
4.39%
4.80%
5.98%
5.62%
BUPA Australia
4.92%
4.50%
4.58%
6.00%
5.39%
Industry Average
5.68%
4.52%
4.99%
6.02%
5.78%
“Offering good service is only part of meeting the expectations of Members. We also understand that price and value for money is very important. ”
Thanks for your continued support of the Fund and we look forward to rewarding this loyalty with further improvements in our products and service.
Aaron Newman
2 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
Financial Review Smart Investor Edition June 2010 Were you aware that you belong to an award winning health fund? Over the last two years Queensland Country Health Fund has won the state award from CANNEX for outstanding value hospital cover in Queensland. We have also been mentioned in the Financial Review Smart Investor Magazine for June 2010 as offering one of the best value Hospital insurance covers in Queensland. What an honour! Of course we know that our product is fantastic, and this cements it in our view. The Financial Review used data from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (from www.privatehealth.gov.au ) and information from the State of the Health Funds report, along with information from insurers' websites and product disclosure statements, to compare private hospital insurance plans from 40 different insurers, this included open and restricted access health funds. They compared hundreds of policies and ours came up as one of the best! Some of the features that the Smart Investor Magazine used to determine their winners' were as follows: ✔ The plan must give exemption from the Medicare levy surcharge ✔ It must have minimal or no exclusions other than for surgery by podiatrist or cosmetic surgery ✔ It must have no benefit limitation periods and no, or minimal, limits on cover for cardiac, eye lens, rehabilitation and psychiatric care for singles, couples and families as well as covering families for assisted reproduction, pregnancy and birth and sterilisation; and for older couples: joint replacement, dialysis and palliative care ✔ The plan must have the lowest possible excess and co-payments ✔ The relevant insurer must have a reasonable number of agreements with private and day hospitals in each state where they are recommended ✔ They specifically looked for plans with a high level of member retention and acceptable levels of complaints ✔ The plan must give the highest possible level of gap cover for medical and hospital related services Queensland Country Health Fund was found to be one of the two best health funds in Queensland for family cover and for an established couple as per the above criteria.
[
The office of the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman has moved. From 19 July 2010, their new location and mailing address is: 2202 / 580 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 PHIO Complain Hotline: 1800 640 695 Phone: 02 8235 8777 Fax: 02 8235 8778 Web: www.phio.org.au
]
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 3
AUSTRALIA’S HEALTH
A Mixed Bag
Gary Williams SPHTM&RS JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY
Amidst all the current debate and claims
almost 16% moving into the best third
of Australia becoming the fattest nation
among comparable nations. Alcohol
and political claims that the health
consumption also saw a reduction in the
system is in crisis, the recent National
past 20 years and remains steadily in
almost the worst third among
Health Survey (NHS) demonstrated that
the middle third of comparable nations.
comparable nations for diabetes and
not all things relating to health in
In turn the NHS reported an increase
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
Australia are bad. Australians currently
from the middle third to the best third
while Australia did reach the worst third
boast one of the highest life
for the number of people rating their
of comparable nations in regards to
expectancies in the world for both males
health as good or better with almost
infant mortality and obesity.
(almost 80 years of age) and females
85% of people reporting their health as
(almost 84 years of age), and when
either good or better.
compared internationally to a host of
Despite the noticeable disparities in health overall Australia’s health does
Despite this positive outlook regarding
look good with a significant proportion
the health of Australians there still
of the population reporting good or
remain a number of not so positive
better health, however pressure
aspects that despite federal
continues to mount on the current
government, state government, local
health care system as Australia’s
government and non-government
population continues to age. The
organisations spending a combined
increase in chronic disease with an
$103 billion on health in Australia little
aging population will likely continue to
or no improvements are seen. The most
increase costs and add to an already
Among the most notable changes has
pressing example of this is the disparity
stretched health care budget.
seen mortality rates for breast cancer,
in life expectancy among different
Government policies continue to
lung cancer, stroke, suicide and
population groups. Life expectancy for
attempt to maintain the current health
maternal mortality all decrease
Indigenous Australians is 10-15 years
care system into the future, however a
significantly moving from the middle
less than non-Indigenous Australians
100% government funded system is
third among comparable nations into the
and despite improvements in health care
unachievable in today’s climate.
best third. Even more significant was the
delivery Indigenous populations
Continued private health sector growth
reduction in mortality rates of colon
continue to fair worse than non-
and individual investment in health is a
cancer moving from the worst third of
Indigenous populations on a significant
significant step towards a sustainable
comparable nations to the best third
number of health indicators.
health care system for the future.
other health indicators Australia generally fairs in the best third if not leading other comparable nations. According to national data from the NHS and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australia has seen significant reductions in a number of health indicators in the past 20 years.
while other indicators such as coronary heart disease moved from the worst third to the middle third.
The NHS also revealed that regardless of improvements in a number of health indicators Australia is still falling behind
Health risk also demonstrated
comparable nations in regards to a
significant improvement with smoking
number of health indicators. The most
rates falling dramatically from 30% to
recent NHS data saw Australia fall to
“Australians currently boast one of the highest life expectancies in the world for both males (almost 80 years of age) and females (almost 84 years of age)”. 4 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
Did you know? Claim Forms
Service Centres
We know how busy you are, so to make things even faster for
We have several Service Centres for our Members'
you, it’s no longer necessary for you to complete treatment
convenience. Sometimes you may need to see a friendly
details on our claim form. Even if you have 30 receipts, you
face when you have a query regarding your cover. You can
only require the one form to accompany it. You can even scan
drop in claims, change Membership details, and ask any
your receipts and email your claim with a claim form to
questions regarding your cover or benefit entitlement. For
qchealth@qccu.com.au. As we have moved over to paperless
security of our staff, most of our Service Centres are now
technology if you are planning to mail your claim form to us,
cash free but claims are still processed and funds deposited
we would also appreciate your co-operation in using paper
via direct credit to your nominated bank account. Our
clips instead of staples, it’s one way we’re helping to save
Service Centres are in the following locations:
the planet!
Caneland Central Shopping Centre - Mackay 186 Queen Street - Ayr 70 Camooweal Street - Mount Isa (cash claims available) Willows Shopping Centre - Kirwan
Combined Limits Some of your Extras have sub-limits. Whilst the overall Therapy limit is $900 for Essential Extras and $1400 for Premium Extras, some Extras have a sub-limit. This means you can only claim up to a certain amount for specific therapies. These include Physiotherapy and Podiatry. A combined limit applies to Osteopathy, Chiro and Massage. Dental service categories also attract a sub-limit. To see exactly how much you can claim for your particular level of cover please see a list of our Extras on our website www.qldcountryhealth.com.au or you can call us on 1800 813 415.
Before Commencing Any Treatment If you’re unsure of your level of cover or benefit entitlements, and are requiring or considering commencing medical treatment, be it with your Dentist or Surgeon, we may be able to assist you with some information. We can confirm your benefit entitlements for dental procedures, if an excess is payable for hospital treatment and provide information regarding possible out-of-pocket expenses. Before calling please make sure you have a full estimate of costs from your practitioner so we can best help you.
Tax Time It’s that time of year again. If your postal address details on record are current, you should by now have received your Tax Rebate Statement and Lifetime Health Cover certificate required for completion of personal tax returns. It’s important to note that once you turn 30 years of age you need to maintain your health insurance cover to avoid paying the Lifetime Health Cover loading. If you do drop off hospital cover, you can be without cover for 1094 days without incurring a Lifetime Health Cover loading. If you join after this period, it is Government legislation that a 2% loading will be added to your premium for every year that you are without cover. If you’re a high income earner, private health
Membership Year At Queensland Country Health Fund our aim is to ensure our policy structure is as fair to all Members as possible. This is why we employ an anniversary or join date based system for calculation of benefit entitlement. This means that all your benefit entitlements are based on your initial joining date. So when we talk about your Membership year this means we are talking about the anniversary of your original date of joining. If you’re unsure about your join date, please contact us or check on Web Services via our website. Our new look Membership cards have the Anniversary date displayed for ease of recognition of this important date.
insurance hospital cover is a requirement to avoid paying the extra 1% Medicare Levy Surcharge. Even more reason to maintain your hospital cover!
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 5
MEDICARE LEVY SURCHARGE What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds Singles
Families
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an
The threshold for singles for the 2010-
The threshold for families for the 2010-
extra 1% tax payable by those who
2011 financial year is $77,000. This
2011 financial year is also $154,000, so
earn over a certain threshold but do not
means that if you earn over $77,000
if your combined household income
have eligible private hospital cover and
and do not have eligible hospital cover,
exceeds $154,000 and you do not have
is in addition to the 1.5% Medicare levy
you will be taxed an extra 1%, which is a
eligible hospital cover, you will be taxed
paid by most Australian taxpayers. (All
minimum of $770 annually.
an extra 1%, which is a minimum of
Queensland Country Health Fund
$1,540 annually. This applies to both
private hospital covers exempt
Couples
policyholders from paying this
The threshold for couples for the 2010-
however special rules apply to families
additional tax). The objective of the
2011 financial year is $154,000. This
with more than one child. The Medicare
Medicare Levy Surcharge is to
means that if you and your partner earn
Levy Surcharge threshold increases by
encourage high income earners to
over $154,000 and do not have hospital
$1,500 for every child after the first, as
have, and maintain private health
cover, you will be taxed an extra 1%,
per the table below:
insurance to assist in easing the burden
which is a minimum of $1,540 annually.
single-parent and two-parent families,
on the public health system by utilising the services offered by the private health sector. It is necessary to maintain eligible hospital cover for each full 12 month period (financial year) to avoid paying
No. of children
MLS threshold
1
$154,000
2
$155,500
3
$157,000
etc.
+ $1,500 per child
the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
Eligible Hospital Cover To avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge
A dependant, in relation to the Medicare
an eligible hospital cover policy must
Levy Surcharge is someone whose
have an excess:
maintenance you contribute towards,
• Equal to or less than $500 per
and they would be:
annum for singles or • Equal to or less than $1,000 for couples and families. Who are dependants in relation to the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
6 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
• Your spouse • Any of your children who are under 21 years of age • Any children who are students and are under the age of 25 years of age.
Website
Web Services
Life can be so hectic these days. Work,
Our website is an informative guide to
friends and family, school, study, sport…
the fund and its product range. Did you
sometimes it’s hard to find enough
know that you can also personally access
hours in the day to get things done!
your own membership online? By
That’s why we find ourselves, as a
registering for online web services, you
society, using the internet more and
can check the status of your membership
• Change contact details
more to do everyday things. The
whenever you want. Online web services
internet provides us with 24 hour
gives you the ability to update your
• Add a new person
access to shopping, news,
membership details whenever you want,
• Change personal details
entertainment, banking, bill paying and
giving you greater control and easy
even our friendships, why not your
access. Please see below on how you
• Add student dependant declaration
health insurance too?
can also win a prize just by registering for
• Add Medicare card details
online web services.
• Add previous cover details
We understand that a lot of our
• Claims history • View/print tax statement • Update membership details
Members work long hours. It’s hard to
To access these online web services, all
get to the phone, and sometimes by the
you need to do is register on the
• Change level of cover
time you realise the time, it’s too late to
homepage. This register icon is located
• Update your method of payment
contact us in person. This is why our
at the top right hand corner of the
new website is so helpful.
screen. Once you register for a password, we’ll send you a confirmation
We have designed our website to feature as much useful product information and content as possible. There’s all kinds of information on your Queensland Country Health Fund cover, and it’s right at your fingertips. If you were thinking of changing your level of cover, there’s a calculator there so you
whether your hospital has a contract with us. You can download forms, find important information, and contact details. So jump online www.qldcountryhealth.com.au
eg: direct credit
email back and you’re ready to go.
• Contribution changes
You can log on at any time of the day
• View benefit limits
and check your cover; you can even update address details, change your
Of course, not everyone is comfortable
level of cover and even add a new
using the internet. That’s why you can
addition to the family. Following is a list
always call us on 1800 813 415.
of all the different things you can do
We’re happy to walk you through it or
by registering:
help you over the phone!
can see the difference in price. If you’re going to hospital shortly, you can check
• Update the way we pay benefits
“Once you register for a password, we’ll send you a confirmation email back and you’re ready to go.”
and have a look around.
register online to
Win!
We want you to be more hands on and
for online services just visit our website
we’ll reward you for it! If you register for
www.qldcountryhealth.com.au and
online services in the month of
hit the register button in the top right
September, you will go into the draw to
hand corner and you’ll automatically
win one of 5 $100 gift cards. To register
go into the draw!
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 7
Benefits of Podiatry
Hayley Paterson ACCREDITED PODIATRIST B.HSc. Podiatry (Hons) M.A. Pod A
advice and modification or customised
Why see a Podiatrist?
arch supports (orthotics).
Our feet are often the most neglected and forgotten part of our body.
Can a Podiatrist help you?
Research has shown that people are more likely to have serviced their car than to have had their feet checked by
Podiatrists treat people of all age
accepted, when in fact people with
groups – from toddlers through to the
these conditions need to seek treatment.
elderly. Most people are unaware that
a Podiatrist. Yet our feet are our main mode of transport, carrying us on a journey of 128,000 kilometres in a lifetime – the equivalent to three times around the world!
the majority of adult foot problems
And lastly you may not be aware, foot
manifest themselves in early childhood,
function does not only affect the foot
when the foot is still developing. Early
and ankle, but also has a direct affect
detection may eliminate some problems
on how the knees and hips and lower
from occurring.
back will function. Body weight places enormous stress on these load bearing
Podiatrists are tertiary qualified health professionals trained to deal with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of medical and surgical
Podiatrists play an important role in
joints, so if the joints aren’t properly
sporting circles, including managing
aligned with the foot, then long term
sports injuries but more importantly
ailments may occur.
improving biomechanical performance
conditions of the feet and lower limbs. The complex way feet work and wide range of foot problems demand
to maximise efficiency and minimise the
So if you find any of the above relates
risk of injury.
to you – don’t hesitate any longer before seeing a Podiatrist!
professional expertise to assess and
With the older demographic, falls at
manage the causes of foot pain.
home are frequent and linked to poor
Hayley Paterson is a Podiatrist at
What does a Podiatrist do?
foot mechanics and in particular foot
PROARCH PODIATRY Townsville
In my opinion, the primary goal of a
more likely to have bunions, toe
Podiatrist is to manage lower limb
deformities, numbness and poor foot
conditions via conservative treatment,
strength which mean you are much more
where possible, therefore reducing or
likely to suffer multiple falls.
eliminating the need for medication,
Unfortunately, older people tend to
cortisone injections and surgery.
dismiss foot pain and foot problems as
Treatment may include strapping, foot
symptoms of ageing that just have to be
pain. As you get on in years you are
strengthening and stretching, footwear
BENEFITS IN FOCUS Podiatry If you have Extras cover with us you are able to claim for Podiatry
Type of Service
Essential Extras
Premium Extras
$900 combined limit per membership year. Limits apply per person covered
$1,400 combined limit per membership year. Limits apply per person covered
Podiatry
Sub-limit $350
Sub-limit $550
Initial consultation and subsequent consultation
$22
$35
Approved appliances
85% of cost – a sub-limit of $350 applies
85% of cost – a sub-limit of $550 applies
Minor procedures
75% of cost
75% of cost
services from a registered Podiatrist. The following table
2 months
outlines the benefits available and limits that may apply.
Waiting period
8 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
Preventative Dental Care
Patricia Drockman HYGIENIST
The key to maintaining your natural
The latest scientific research shows
teeth for life is in the prevention of oral
that dental disease may contribute to
diseases and decay.
health problems such as; heart attack, stroke, premature birth and diabetes.
Regular preventive care appointments are important to help prevent dental
Having regular 6 monthly visits allows
Thorough and consistent oral hygiene
problems. The health of your mouth
issues to be found and treated at an
is one of the major keys to keeping you
has a major impact on your general
early stage preventing them from
smile for life. The great news is that if
health and wellbeing, having a nice
becoming a painful and costly exercise.
you have dental extras a large amount
smile does wonders for your self-
Most people would rather have the
of the costs of preventative care will be
esteem. Healthy teeth and gums
experience and cost of a small filling
covered by your health fund. Early
enable good eating habits and speech
compared to root canal treatment or
intervention is the key to a great smile
formation. The health of your mouth is
an extraction.
that lasts a lifetime.
closely linked to your general health.
BENEFITS IN FOCUS Dental Cleaning and Checkups At Queensland Country Health Fund we have an industry leading range of dental benefits. To help keep your teeth in great shape you should plan to visit your Dentist and Hygienist regularly. Below are some examples of benefits that we pay towards cleaning and check-ups. If you’re unsure of your out of pocket costs, your Dental professional will be able to provide you with the item numbers for the services that will be undertaken and from this information we can give you an exact estimate of benefit entitlement. DENTAL Limits per Membership Year and What We’ll Pay
Type of Service
Waiting Periods
Essential Extras
Premium Extras
$900 overall limit per membership year. Limit applies per person covered
$1,400 overall limit per Membership year. Limit applies per person covered
Diagnostic This includes examinations, consultations, x-rays etc
2 months
$200 Periodic Oral Exam - $22 X-rays - $17
$300 Periodic Oral Exam - $35 X-rays - $27
Preventative This includes Cleaning and scaling, Fluoride treatment , Oral Hygiene instruction and mouth guards
2 months
$300 Scale & Clean - $35 Fluoride Treatment - $10
$500 Scale & Clean - $55 Fluoride Treatment - $15
“To help keep your teeth in great shape you should plan to visit your Dentist and Hygienist regularly.”
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 9
BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D Are you getting enough sun? Living in ‘the Sunshine State’ it may come
Lauren Nugent EAT SMART NUTRITION CONSULTANT
hands and face exposed to get the amount of vitamin D required daily.
as a surprise that a reasonable portion of
So how do I get enough vitamin D
our population is actually vitamin D
without increasing my risk of skin
would presume to have high vitamin D
deficient. Vitamin D we typically get from
cancers?
levels such as cricketers or outdoor
exposure to the sun but it is also available through food sources. An increasing number of us are not experiencing regular sun exposure as we spend daylight hours working indoors and in fact avoid sun
• Eat plenty of oily fish – not only will it provide you with vitamin D but it will supply you with essential omega 3 fatty acids. • If you spend most of your daylight hours
exposure due to skin cancer risk. However,
in the office, try to get out of the office in
there is now also mounting evidence
your lunch break - go for a walk or eat
suggesting that a lack of vitamin D may
your lunch in a park.
also increase the risk of some cancers. So what is vitamin D? It is one of our fat-soluble vitamins and
• Instead of exercising inside in a gym, go outside for a walk/run. • Remember 5-10 minutes of sun exposure
workers, sometimes have low vitamin D levels. We do not yet know why some people maintain good vitamin D levels while others don’t. Recent research has also looked at vitamin D’s role in reducing the risk for cancers such as colorectal, breast, prostate and pancreas. While it is too early to write a prescription for sun exposure to lower your cancer risk, this research does add strength to the importance of maintaining a healthy vitamin D level.
through various pathways and mechanisms
is all you need to meet your requirements.
assists the body with calcium absorption,
If you’re out for longer than this don’t
Research is also looking at vitamin D’s role
regulation and healthy bone development.
forget to cover up and use sunscreen
in mental health disorders such as
Vitamin D also plays an important role
What about in winter, do I need more?
depression. Sun exposure is known to assist in mood disorders, while a lack of
in our immune system. It can also The recommendation is for 10-30 minutes
sun exposure can exacerbate or initiate
exposure two times per week, between What happens if I don’t get enough?
depression. However it is unknown
10am and 3pm.
whether vitamin D is the cause of this
Long -term deficiency results in impaired
Can’t I just take a vitamin D supplement?
disturbance in mood or some other factor.
reduce inflammation.
bone mineralization and can lead to thin, brittle or soft bones. Long-term deficiency can result in diseases such as rickets (impeded growth at childhood), osteomalacia (bone thinning disorder) or osteoporosis (reduced bone density). Where can I get it? Vitamin D is not highly abundant in food sources however the best sources are fatty
You can, however vitamin D is better absorbed via the skin than the digestive tract so a small amount of sun exposure tends to work best.
more research to shed light on this emerging area but it does seem that a little sunlight is a quick and easy way to improve the mood!
If you are concerned, ask your doctor for a
Vitamin D appears to be a very important
blood test.
micronutrient so make sure you’re getting
sardines and cod liver oil. The easiest way
vitamin D?
the peak daylight hours with your arms,
health issues. We will have to wait for
checked?
How do I know if I’m deficient in
from the sun. It takes just a few minutes in
D as a treatment for a variety of mental
Should I get my vitamin D levels
fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, to get your required intake of vitamin D is
There is also research looking into vitamin
your twice-weekly dose of vitamin D for strong bones, reducing your cancer risk and lifting your mood!
Often times you won’t until you have a bone issue. In fact, even those who we
10 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 10
Townsville Running Festival At Queensland Country Health Fund we love to get behind the community by supporting a number of different sporting teams and events. This year we have sponsored the Townsville Running Festival. This wonderful community event promotes healthy living and gives the competitors a chance to enjoy Townsville’s beautiful Strand. You didn't have to be the next Steve Monaghetti, but for the more serious competitors
Some of ou
there was a chance to win cash prizes
r staff comp
and break some records. Walk or run, it was a great way to start the day!
etitors
Pharmacy Benefits If you have Extras cover with us, you can claim Pharmacy benefits. There are some fund rules that determine what pharmaceutical products are eligible for benefits, for details please see below: • Medication must be listed with Mims (a company that provides independent medical information regarding pharmaceuticals) • Pharmacy item must be scripted • Medication must be supplied in the correct dosage as per Mims – we will only assess benefits on individual dosage quantities if you buy in bulk • Pharmacy item purchase amount must be above the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) amount of $33.30 – for more information on
• Medication must be dispensed from a pharmacy • We require an official pharmacy receipt to accompany claim The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a national pharmaceutical scheme funded by the Federal
claimable. If you’re unsure on whether you can claim for these please contact us to check, a Doctor’s letter is required annually and we need to check its listing in Mims. We do cover Compound Pharmacy items provided that one of the ingredients meets the above criteria.
Government where patients make a contribution to the cost of prescribed
Metvix Cream can also be claimed. It
drugs. We do not pay for any
must meet the above requirements.
pharmaceutical prescriptions that are
Please note that photodynamic therapy
covered by the Pharmaceutical
or related Doctor’s charges are not
Benefits Scheme, ie items under
claimable through us.
$33.30. We do pay benefits for eligible products that exceed this purchase amount.
If a claim is submitted for a PBS pharmaceutical prescription, or for items dispensed at a Public Hospital or for
We do not cover the contraceptive pill.
discharge drugs, Queensland Country
Some pills are prescribed solely for
Health Fund cannot pay a benefit.
skin conditions and these are
this see the following paragraph
September 10 | Queensland Country Health Fund 11
IMPROVE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF YOUR HOME AND YOU COULD WIN $2,000 CASH BACK. WE CAN PROVIDE A LOW COST LOAN FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: • Solar (photovoltaic) panels and systems • Rainwater storage tanks • Grey-water treatment system
If your Eco Smart Green Loan is approved and funded between 1 July and 30 September 2010, you’ll automatically have a chance to win $2,000 cash back on the energy efficient product that you borrow for.
• Roof insulation
OUR ECO SMART GREEN LOAN PROVIDES: • $0 establishment fee • $0 monthly loan maintenance fee • No deposit required • Borrow between $3,000 and $25,000 • Term of 1-5 years
Visit your local Queensland Country Credit Union branch Queensland Country Credit Union Ltd. ABN 77 087 651 027. AFSL 244 533. Normal lending criteria applies. Other fees and charges apply. Competition and other terms and conditions are available on request.
www.qccu.com.au